I regretted the words as soon as I said them, because of course that meant I was insinuating that Georgie’s skin tone, so effortlessly bronze even in the wintertime, came from his father.
And I knew he wished he had nothing to do with that man.
It was part of the reason he was George Campbell now, the same way I’d changed my name from Ridley to Campbell after the whole ordeal, too. Campbell was our mother’s maiden name, and we claimed it the way we wished we’d been able to claim her before it was too late.
“But, I will say, I’m excited to spend some time in our pool.”
“Fancy pants,” Georgie said with a whistle. “Got a pool in your backyard. Did you ever think you’d see the day?”
I chuffed a laugh. “Hardly. I still feel like I’m the same person I was when you and I were living off SpaghettiOs.”
“I still love those things,” Georgie said with a hum. “Don’t judge me, but I have a whole stash at my dorm. It’s the best late-night study snack.”
“Would you advise your patients to eat them?”
“Absolutely not,” he said. “But they don’t need to know my personal business.”
I chuckled. “I miss you.”
“Miss you, too. You still going to come visit for your birthday?”
My stomach soured then. “Nathan thinks we should have a big party here, since it’s the holiday and everything. Great way to get all the staff together before the playoff race really kicks in.”
There was a brief pause on the phone before Georgie cleared his throat. “Well, Nathan certainly knows what’s best for business.”
The phrasing struck me as odd, stiff in a way Georgie rarely was, but I let it go. “Would you want to come here? I know you have your own friends and life there, that school has you tied up… but we have a room here with your name on it.”
“Are you kidding, Ri? I wouldn’t miss it for anything. My big sister is turning forty. I gotta party with you before your back and knees give out.”
I balked, but was fighting off laughter of my own as my brother guffawed. “Oh, you think you’re so funny with the old jokes, huh? Hate to break it to you, kid, but this will be you one day, too.”
“Nah, I’m too beautiful to age.”
“Keep telling yourself that,” I said, still laughing.
“So… how was it seeing Shane again?”
That had my smile melting like snow under a blow dryer. I turned my focus back to unpacking. “What do you mean?”
“What do you meanwhat do I mean? Was it awkward? Exciting? Did your stomach fill with butterflies?”
I snorted. “Honestly, Georgie. I’m married.”
“Yeah, to such a great guy,” he deadpanned, and before the sting of that could sink in, he sucked his teeth and continued pressing me. “Seriously, have you guys had a chance to talk?”
“There’s nothing for us to talk about,” I said with finality, shelving a book a bit too hard. “Shane is Shane. He looks pretty much the same. He’s the head coach and I am the wife of the general manager, it’s not like we’re hanging out all the time. He was a bit surprised to see me, I think, but he’s been pleasant enough since. Professional. It’s…. I don’t know. It’s nothing to talk about.”
“Uh-huh,” Georgie said. “And did you tell him you stalked his hockey career for years, or that you still have his Boston College hoodie?”
“Shh,” I snapped. “I do not.”
“I’ve seen it.”
“I got rid of it years ago.”
“I packed it into one of those boxes you’re now going through.”
That had my eyes wide and scanning, wondering which one. I’d have to hide it away before Nathan saw it.
